Non-Conventional Power Generation

[EE522OE]

V Semester

Computer Science Engineering (CSE-1)

Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology
 Unit-I
Introduction to Solar Energy and Thermal Conversion
Systems
• Solar Radiation on Earth’s surface
• Solar radiation geometry
• solar radiation measurement
• Solar radiation data
• Solar radiation on horizontal and tilted surfaces
• Solar Thermal conversion
• Flat plate collectors
• concentrated collectors
• Solar applications - Solar ponds.
Solar Radiation on Earth’s surface

Solar Constant:
• Energy flux received from the sun before entering the earth’s atmosphere, is a constant quantity.
Extraterrestrial radiation is the measure of solar radiation that would be received in the absence of atmosphere.
The curve rises sharply with the wavelength and reaches the maximum value of 2074 W/m2/ μm at a
wavelength of 0.48 μm
• For utilization of solar energy, a study is required to be carried out of
radiations received on the earth’s surface. Solar radiations pass
through the earth’s atmosphere and are subjected to scattering
and atmospheric absorption. A part of scattered radiation is
reflected back into space.
• Short wave ultraviolet rays are absorbed by ozone and long wave
infrared rays are absorbed by CO2 and water vapours. Scattering is
due to air molecules, dust particles and water droplets that cause
attenuation of radiation as detailed in Figure 3.3.
Minimum attenuation takes place in a clear sky when the
earth’s surface receives maximum radiation
Solar Radiation
Geometry:
COMPUTATION OF COS θ FOR ANY
LOCATION HAVING ANY ORIENTATION
Solar radiation on an inclined
surface
The total solar radiation incident on a surface has three components.
• (i) Beam solar radiation
• (ii) Diffuse solar radiation
• (iii) Reflected solar radiation from ground and surroundings.
SOLAR RADIATION MEASUREMENTS
Pyranometer
• The pyranometer measures global or diffuse radiation on a horizontal surface. It covers
total hemispherical solar radiation with a view angle of 2Π steradians.
• The pyranometer can also measure diffuse sky radiation by providing a shading ring or
disc to shade the direct sun rays.

Pyrheliometer
• A pyrheliometer is an instrument which measures beam radiation on a surface normal to
the sun’s rays. The sensor is a thermopile and its disc is located at the base of a tube
whose axis is aligned in the direction of the sun’s rays.

Sunshine recorder
• The duration in hours of bright sunshine in a day is measured by a sunshine recorder
Pyranometer
Pyranometer Pyrheliometer
Pyrheliometer
SOLAR RADIATION DATA FOR INDIA
• The annual average daily diffuse radiation received over the whole country is about 175 cal/cm2/day (7300
kJ/m2/day). Maximum values observed are 300 cal/cm2/day during July in Gujarat, while the minimum
values between 75 and 100 cal/cm2/day during December are observed over many locations.
Solar energy can be used through two routes.
• One is the thermal route for water heating, cooking, drying, water
purification and power generation.
• The other is photovoltaic route that converts solar radiation into
electricity which can be used for pumping water, communications and
power supply in unelectrified areas.
 Solar Thermal
Aconversion
solar thermal energy collector is an equipment in which solar energy is collected
by absorbing radiation in an absorber and then transferring to a fluid.

In general, there are two types of collectors:

Flat-plate solar collector:
It has no optical concentrator. Here, the collector area and the absorber area are
numerically the same, the efficiency is low, and temperatures of the working fluid
can be raised only up to 100°C.
Concentrating-type solar collector:
Here the area receiving the solar radiation is several times greater than the
absorber area and the efficiency is high. Mirrors and lenses are used to concentrate
the sun’s rays on the absorber, and the fluid temperature can be raised up to 500°C.
For better performance, the collector is mounted on a tracking equipment to face
the sun always with its changing position.
Flat-plate solar collector:
Concentrating-type solar collector:
As a typical case, a dish of 6 m in diameter is constructed
from 200 curved mirror segments forming a paraboloidal
surface. The absorber has a cavity shape made of zirconium–
copper alloy, with a selective coating of black chrome. The
CR ranges from 100 to a few thousands with maximum
temperature up to 2000°C. For this, two-axis tracking is
required so that the sun may remain in line with the focus
and vertex of the paraboloid.
Heliostats follow the sun to harness maximum
solar heat. Water flowing through the receiver
absorbs heat to produce steam which operates a
Rankine cycle turbo generator to generate
electrical energy.

With a central receiver optical system, a large

number of small mirrors are installed, each
steerable to have an image at the absorber on the
central receiver. A curvature is provided to the
mirrors so as to focus the sunlight in addition to
directing it to the tower.
Solar Applications
• Solar Water Heating
• Solar Distillation
• Solar Thermal Power Plant
• Solar Ponds
• Solar Pumping Systems
• Solar Air Heaters
• Solar Crop Drying
• Solar Kilns
• Solar Cookers
• Solar Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Solar Furnace
Solar
Ponds